Bulge notch connectors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a building construction using bulge notch connectors located within a wall cavity at the top and bottom end of metal framing members as well as through the holes in the metal forming members. The spacing-bracing members connecting the metal framing members have bulges, bulge notches, lips and lip notches in the spacing-bracing members and the holes securing the spacing bracing members have notches to secure framing members together. The holes can have holes notches or hole bulges to connect the bulges and bulge notches to connect metal framing components together. The longitudinal ends of the spacing-bracing members can have hook tongues with adjoining members having receiver holes for the tongue portion to fit into.

This application is a a continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 14/946,378 filed Mar. 3, 2015 and this application claims priority to the following:

continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/449,386 filed Jun. 22, 2019 and; continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/439,640 filed Jun. 12, 2019 and; continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/406,289 filed May 8, 2019 and; continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/396,624 filed Apr. 26, 2019 and; continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/354,081 filed Mar. 14, 2019 and; continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/198,831 filed Nov. 22, 2018 and; continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 16/195,847 filed Nov. 19, 2018 and; continuation-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 15/724,137 filed Nov. 3, 2017 that included provisional application U.S. 62/533,092 filed Jul. 16, 2017 (now expired) and; provisional application U.S. 62/490,917 filed Apr. 27, 2017 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/485,114 filed Apr. 13, 2017 (now expired) and continuous-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 15/430,781 filed Feb. 13, 2017 that included provisional application U.S. 62/264,033 filed Jul. 15, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/274,134 filed Dec. 31, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/294,756 filed Feb. 12, 2016 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/298,782 filed Feb. 23, 2016 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/308,520 filed Mar. 15, 2016 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/345,153 filed Jun. 3, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/385,932 filed Sep. 9, 2016 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/339,434 filed Sep. 15, 2016 (now expired) and; continuation-in-part pending application U.S. Ser. No. 15/295,172 dated Oct. 17, 2016 that included provisional application U.S. 62/242,705 filed Oct. 16, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/244,135 filed Oct. 20, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/264,033 filed Dec. 7, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/274,134 filed Dec. 15, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/345,153 filed Mar. 6, 2016 (now expired) and; continuous-in-part of pending application U.S. Ser. No. 15/090,460 filed Nov. 19, 2015 that included provisional application U.S. 62/143,097 filed Apr. 4, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/208,766 filed Aug. 23, 2015 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/242,705 filed Nov. 16, 2015 (now expired) and; continuous-in-part of pending application U.S. Ser. No. 14/946,378 filed Mar. 3, 2015 and provisional application U.S. 62/083,276 filed Nov. 23, 2014 (now expired) and provisional application U.S. 62/139,916 filed Mar. 30, 2015 (now expired) provisional application U.S. 62/170,269 filed Jun. 15, 2015 (now expired) and; the disclosures of the above cited US patent applications and US Provisional Applications of the Applicant, including all drawings and all the specifications, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties into this US patent application.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

PARTIES OR JOINT RESEARCH

Not applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes bulge notch connectors that incorporates bulges, bulge notches or lip notches to connect metal framing members to spacing-bracing members and uses the web at the of the spacing bracing member as an extension to form the hook tongue and the receiver holes to connect the ends of adjacent spacing-bracing members. The spacing-bracing member will have bulges with bulge notches and spacing-bracing members with lips will have bulges with bulge notches. The spacing-bracing members can be smaller in width to fit into the aperture of the metal framing members and where the aperture has notches. Several solutions are shown where bulges with notches allow the metal framing member to have vertical movement for dead load and live load movement so the metal framing supports can move within the bulge notch or within the lip notches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spacing-bracing members have been typically connected to metal framing members by using fasteners. Over the years the properties of the metal for structural framing members have changed where the exterior surface of the metal is more abrasive allowing the connection between the horizontal bracing members and the vertical structural framing members to fit temporarily together. Other solutions have been disclosed but none show bulges or bulges with notches or lip notches also having bulges have never been disclosed.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Bulges can sometimes be referred to as rib or ridges used to strength metal framing members. Projections can also be consider bugles again used as reliefs within a framing member to add strength. Bulges have not been used to support or guide metal framing members in spacing-bracing members. Typically metal framing member and horizontal bracing members have used fasteners to connect the framing members together. The use of hole notches to spacing-bracing members notches at the bulges and lips are unique and have not found any prior art that compares to this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to having spacing-bracing members connect to other adjacent spacing-bracing members having the same or similar profile. The connecting spacing-bracing members can be located at the top or bottom ends of the metal framing members that form the metal framed construction wall and where the spacing-bracing members extend over the flanges of the metal framing members. The spacing-bracing members have a web with flanges and the flanges can have continuous curvilinear bulges. The bulges extend inward toward the opposing flanges with the bulges having flange-bulge notches that engage the metal framing members. The bulges can have angular side or have a curvilinear configuration. Other types of bulge notches are flanges that are bent on either side of the metal framing members. Another solution is the flanges of the spacing-bracing members are bent inward.

Another solution is the spacing-bracing member where lips extend inward from the flanges toward the opposing flange with the lips having lip notches where the flanges of the metal framing support members to fit into. When the spacing-bracing members are short where one or no metal framing members are installed in the short spacing-bracing member and the hook tongues with the tongue being installed in the receiver hole allowing the short wall segment to curve forming a curvilinear wall.

The metal framing building components between metal framing members are typically shown as a U shaped channel having a web, flanges. When lips and/or double lip edges are added the connector is then referred to as a reverse lip spacer brace. The spacer braces can have bent flanges, W shape flanges, web notches, web-flange notches, two half notches or ½ notches, web-flange notches, lip notches, upward oriented flanges or downward oriented flanges, overlapping the webs, flanges or lips, flanges having sloped flanges, hook tongues connected to hook receivers or receiver holes, flanges being slightly canted where the entire connector is installed in a notch or only an element of the connectors is in the notch. No matter what the shape of the connector, when the hook tongue with receiver slot hole is not used a smaller connector can fit into a larger connector where the connector notches secure the metal framing members. The connector also uses hook tongues and receiver slot holes to secure adjacent spacing-bracing connectors and where the connectors also use hole notches, hole protrusions, at the metal framing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the space brace being connected to an adjacent spacer brace having one end engaged at the hole with a hook tongue having a notched-tab extend into the slot hole receiver. A round receiver hole shows the opposing end having angular extension allowing the spacer brace to be angled horizontally for an undulating framing wall.

FIG. 2 the spacer brace is shown as a reverse lip spacer brace having a web, two longitudinal walls with extending longitudinal lips with notches extending inward from the free edge with the lips facing upward and the web extension being a hook tongue with the notched-tab facing upward with both webs having an extension having tapered sides for the notched-tab to fit into the receiver hole forming the vertical wall can have an undulating wall configuration.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIGS. 1 & 2 showing a U shaped spacer brace where the flanges extend on the outside edges of the vertical flanges of the support member, but the extensions of the longitudinal spacer braces are shorter so the notched-tabs with the receiver holes are between the vertical support members allowing the undulating wall to pivot in the receiver holes having the notched-tabs be the pivots. In FIGS. 1 & 2 the notched-tabs extending through the receiver holes, however the width of the spacer brace in FIG. 3 shows is wider than the width of the support members and the extensions at the receiver hole and the hook tongue are tapered so the notched-tabs can pivot for a curved wall.

FIG. 4 shows three different flange and lip configurations as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of the flange lip configuration shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows an enlargement of the bulge notch where the bulge notch is in the flange of the spacing-bracing member.

FIG. 7 shows the bulge notch in the flange along with the lip notch in the lip of the spacing-bracing member.

FIG. 8 shows the bulge of the spacer brace insert into the hole notch at the lower corners of the hole in the support member.

FIG. 9 shows the bulge having a bulge notch where the side edge hole fits into and the lip of the space brace fits into the hole notch of the web in the support member.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view of FIG. 9 where the bulge notch fit into the side edge of the hole and the lip from the spacer brace fits into the hole notch of the web in the support member.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric of the U shaped spacer brace at the ceiling using the flange bulge notch as the sliding connecting and the reverse lip spacer brace at the floor using the lip notch and the web notch to form a self-locking fixed connection.

FIG. 12 shows a wall section at the ceiling with a U shaped spacer brace where the flange bulge has a flange bulge notch for the support channel to slide through.

FIG. 13 shows a wall section at the floor with a U shaped Spacer Brace where the flange bulge has a flange bulge notch for the support channel to slide through.

FIGS. 14-16 shows how the hole side edges or protrusions can extend into the hole side edges to form other spacer brace configurations. The figures show how the bulges between the web and the flanges can create an indentation to secure the spacer brace into the hole side edges or how the bulges can have an indentation or notch to slide within the hole side edges and how the flanges can be bent and the lip also bent to create a different configuration of the spacer brace.

FIGS. 17-24 shows various spacer brace bulge notches and flange bulges when intersecting the support member.

FIGS. 25 & 26 shows different views of the notched-tab at the ends of the spacer brace most clearly shown in FIG. 25 having the web extend through the holes of the support member with notches extend around both side planes of the hole with the head of the notched-tab extending through to the opposite side of the hole opening. When the head of each notched-tab extends through the hole in opposite directions, the notched-tabs are basically level between each other and secured together by the notches in the notched-tab. On the other hand FIG. 25 shows an elevation of the hole in the support member with some of the various hole edge configurations that the notches could show. The inside edges of the hole can vary in shape and location depending on the shape of the spacer brace and where the hole notches in the protrusion are located. The protrusions and notches accomplish the same function as they both keep the spacer brace lodged in the hole notches or the side or bottom edges of the hole.

FIG. 27 shows a wall support member having a spacer brace passing through the hole and another spacer brace at the floor, however another reverse lip spacer brace is between the flanges that can slide between the flanges and where the lips can be connected to a diagonal spacer brace forming a tight fit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows two U shaped spacer braces 302 having a web 302 a with two flanges 302 b extending downward from the longitudinal sides of the web 302 a. The left U shaped spacer brace 302 shows a notched-tab 126 nt extending downward from the web extension 302 we. The opposing end of the web 302 a shows a receiver slot hole 129 sh located near the hole bottom edge 36 be. The web 302 a is indented 302 i at the hole 36 with the indentation 302 i extending into the flanges 302 b. The flanges 302 b and the web 302 a rest against the plane of the web 42 a of the support member on one side and the web 302 a, and the web 302 a forms a hook finger 127 that extends over the hole bottom edge which is the anchor space 355 for the inside plane of the hook finger 127 to rest against from the opposing side of the web 42 a from the support member. The right spacer brace 302 has a hook tongue 128 with a notched-tab 126 nt extending downward, however the extension 302 we has tapered side edges. The tapered side edges are angled so the notched-tab 126 nt can fit into the round-hole receiver 129 rh as shown in the web 302 a on the opposite end of the right U shaped spacer brace 302. The round-hole receiver 129 rh has ridges 320 at the side edges of the round-hole receiver 129 rh. The ridges 320 are spaced at intervals to allow the notched-tab 126 nt to fit between the ridges 320 to stop the notched-tabs from rotating. The right U shaped spacer brace 301 has the tapered side edges to rotate when the notched-tab 126 nt is inserted into the round-hole receiver 129 rh. Once the notched-tab 126 nt is located at the proper angle between adjacent U shaped spacer braces 302 the head 126 nth can be bent having the head 126 nth being secured in the round-hole receiver 129 rh. The web extension can be short or long and the receiver hole can be a receiver slot hole 129 sh or a round-hole receiver 129 rh so the notched-tab 126 nt can be swiveled to be oriented at an angle. Additional round-hole receivers 129 rh can be added to the web 302 a so additional hook tongues 128 having notched-tabs 126 nt (not shown) could be inserted from a crossing spacer brace from a perpendicular wall having support members. Any shape spacer brace could be used to form the pivotal configuration as explained above. For example (but not shown) a C shaped spacer brace 303 could be used and a notched-tab 126 nt could be installed in the support member or the floor spacer brace could just have a groove at the flanges for the web 42 a of a support member to fit into. The receiver slot hole 129 sh with the notched-tab 126 nt can be used as an end connections between abutting lengthy spacer braces between support members not just short segmented section to form curvilinear walls. When the U shaped spacer braces 302 are wider than the hole 36, the plane on both side of the hole 36 can be inserted into the flange-web notch 126 fw in the flange 302 b and web 302 a of the spacer brace 302. If the spacer brace was a reverse lip spacer brace 301 the lip notches 126 p would also give additional support at the hole 36 intersection. Another alternative solution in FIG. 1 shows the flanges 302 b and the web 302 a (referred to also as a web-flange notch 126 fw that shows the hook figure 127 where the web 302 a has an extension 301 e that extended over the hole bottom edge 36 be and the hook finger 127 extension downward. The hole bottom edge 36 be and the hole side edge 36 se form a hole notch 126 h at the corners of the hole 36. When the web 302 a of the U shaped spacer braces 302 extends into the hole notch 126 h, the U shaped spacer brace 302 will not move up and down within the hole notch 126 h.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 except the spacer brace is shown as a reverse lip spacer brace 301 where the underside of the web 301 a is against a floor and the flanges 301 b extend upward with lips 301 c extending outward. The lips 301 c are shown having lip notches 126 p shown previously being installed in the web notches 126 w of the support member. The reverse lip spacer braces 301 are shown having an extension 301 e at both ends of the web 301 a with the left end having a notched-tab 126 nt extending upward with the opposite end having a round-hole receiver 129 rh located near the extension 301 e. Both extensions 301 e are tapered so when the notched-tab 126 nt is inserted into the round-hole receiver 129 rh, the notched-tab 126 nt is allowed to swivel within the round-hole receiver 129 rh. The head 126 nth can be bent once the reverse lip spacer brace 301 is oriented to the desired angle to then be secured to the floor for installation of the support members that fit into the lip notches 126 p and into the web notches 126 w in the L-shaped gap 45 e. When completed drywall or other types of wall board can be mounted to the support members to form a curved wall.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except a U shaped spacer brace 302 has a wider web 302 a than the web 301 a of the reverse lip spacer brace 301 in FIG. 2. The middle U shaped spacer braces 302 shows the base of a support member between the flanges 302 b bearing on the web 302 a of the U shaped spacer brace 302 a. The U shaped spacer brace 302 can be manufactured in short segments or longer lengths where additional support members can be installed to the U shaped spacer brace 302 by fastening screws (not shown) from the support member flanges 42 b into the flanges 302 b of the U shaped spacer brace as standard metal framing are presently connected. The longitudinal ends of the U shaped spacer brace 302 are shown having web extension 302 we extend from the webs 302 a to notched-tabs 126 nt extending upward from the hook tongue at one end and a receiver hole 129 h installed in the web extension 302 we at the opposing end. The web extensions 302 we can have receiver holes 129 h or notched-tab 126 nt at both ends depending on the configuration of the wall framing. In addition, the flanges 302 b can be formed as tabs 302 bt that can be bent inward to secure the lip 42 c and web 42 a between the bent tabs or have a flange-bulge notches 126 fg in the flanges 302 b to a corresponding bulges in the flanges 42 b of the spacer brace 302. The three short U shaped spacer braces 302 can be used to form serpentine curvilinear walls or just connecting different wall framing segments together.

FIG. 4 shows a construction framing system using three different spacing-bracing members connected to metal framing members at the top and bottom of the metal framed construction wall. The spacing-bracing member at the left end shows a U shaped spacer brace 301 having bulges 302 b connecting the metal framing members. The adjoining spacing-bracing members have extension 302 e with a hook tongue 128 with the tongue 128 t extends into a receiver slot hole 129 sh. The middle spacing-bracing member is again a U shape spacer brace 302 where the flanges have bent flanges to engage the metal framing member. The right spacing-bracing member is a reverse lip spacer brace 301 where the flanges 301 b has lips 301 c with lip notches 126 p to secure the metal framing members.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarge of FIG. 4 with a reverse lip spacer brace 301 having a web 301 a with flanges 301 b extending from the longitudinal edges of the web 301 a with lips 301 c extending inward toward the opposing flange with lip notches 126 p. The lip notches 126 p engage the metal framing member having a web 42 a with flanges 42 b extending from the longitudinal web 42 a and lips 42 c extending from the flanges 42 b. The side edges of the lip notches 126 p engage the web 42 a and lips 42 c of the metal framing member with the back edge of the lip notch 126 p engages the flanges 42 b of the metal framing member shown as a C channel 42. The spacing-bracing member is shown having a short length, however additional metal framing members can be attached when additional lip notches 126 p are installed. The spacing-bracing member has a web extension 301 e with a hook tongue 128 at the longitudinal ends. The hook tongue 128 has tongue 128 t end with a notch tab end 126 nt with tapered side edges. A notch 128 ntn is shown between the notches tab 126 nt and the extension 301 e so the notch 128 ntn can engage a receiver slot hole 129 sh in the web 301 a of an adjoining spacing-bracing member.

FIG. 6 shows a U shaped spacer brace 302 having a web 302 a with extending flanges 302 b and where the flanges 302 b have bulges 302 g. The upper and lower U shaped spacer braces 302 have bulge notches 302 bg extending inward toward the opposing flange 302 b. The flange-bulge notches 126 gf has the bulge 302 bg removed at the flange-bulge notch 126 gf so the side edges of the bulge 302 bg will support the lip 42 c and web 42 a of the metal framing member extending between the upper and lower U shaped spacer braces 302. The flanges 42 b of the metal framing members abut the flanges 302 b of the spacing-bracing member at the flanges 302 b securing the metal framing members between the two flanges 302 b and the side edge of the bulges 302 bg at the bugle notch 126 gf.

FIG. 7 is a combination of FIG. 5 & FIG. 6 where an upper and a lower spacing-bracing members connect the metal framing member between them at the upper and lower ends of the U shaped spacer braces 301. A U shaped spacer brace 302 does not have lips 301 c that are shown when the spacing-bracing member is a reverse lip spacer brace 301. Both members have web 302 a & 301 a and both have flanges 302 b & 301 b, however when lip 301 c are added the member is referred to as a reverse lip spacer brace 301. The upper spacing-bracing member is shown as a U shaped spacer brace 302 having a web 302 a with flanges 302 b having bulges 302 bg in the flanges 302 b where the bulges 302 bg have flange bulge notches 126 gf. This is the only FIG. showing the lips as lips 302 c that represents any U shaped spacer brace 302 can be converted to a reverse lip spacer brace 301 having the lip as lip 301 c and having lip notches 126 p. The upper reverse lip spacer brace 302 is shown as having a flange bugle notch 126 bf. On the other hand the lower reverse lip spacer brace 301 is shown at the left flange 301 b while the right flange is shown a U shaped spacer brace 302 having only the flange 302 b. Both the left and right flanges show bulges 302 bg or 301 bg as irregular shaped bulges having angled sides with the angles side 302 ba and angled side 302 bb are angled forming a bulge 302 bg or 301 bg extending toward the opposing flanges and both flanges having flange bulge notches 126 bf where the angled sides 302 ba & 302 bb form the bulge notch 126 bf. The side edges of the angled sides 302 ba & 302 bb secure the metal framing member at the lips 42 c and web 42 a of the metal framing members with the flanges 42 b braced the flanges 301 b & 301 b The lip 301 c has the lip notch 126 p.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 except the space brace is a reverse lip spacer 301 as they both have a half-circle shape at the bulge 301 g. The bulge 301 g is shown as a half-circle being vertically oriented having a bulge notch 126 bg on the exterior side of the bulge notch 126 bg for the hole side edges 36 se to fit into. The flanges 301 b extend from the bulge notch 126 bg to the lips 301 c that extend externally at an angle. The hole lip notches 126 hp are vertically oriented and inset into the hole side edges 36 se for the longitudinal edges of the lips 301 c to be inserted into. The reverse lip spacer brace 301 is inserted into the hole 36 at a slight angle allowing the flanges 301 b to bend where the bulge notches 126 bg slide into the hole side edges 36 se and the reverse lip spacer brace 301 is continually pressed downward until the lips 301 c engage the both hole side edges 36 se.

FIG. 10 shows a reverse lip spacer brace 301 having a web 301 a with bulges 301 g at each intersection of the flanges 301 b with the left side having a horizontal oriented lip 301 c and the right side having an angular oriented lip 301 c. The left hole side edge 36 se at the bottom corner has a web-bulge notch 126 wg as shown in FIG. 8 for the bulge 301 g to fit into and the left lip 301 c has a lip notch 126 p for the hole side edge 36 se to fit into. The right side would typically have the same above described combination of self-locking connections on the opposing side of the reverse lip spacer brace 301. Another combination of self-locking connection is shown on the right side which is the same combination as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows a U shaped spacer brace 302 with the exterior side of the web 302 a mounted against the ceiling with its flanges 302 b extending downward. A rounded shape bulge 302 g is shown extending outward from the flange 302 b and in the middle of the longitudinal oriented bulge 302 g shows a bulge notch 126 bg that is in alignment with the web 42 a of the support member. The bottom reverse lip spacer brace 301 has the exterior side of its web 301 a fastened (not shown) to the floor with its flanges 301 b extending upward and its lips 301 c extending outward. A bulge 301 g is shown extending outward from the web 301 a protruding outward from the flange 301 b so a bulge notch 126 g can be located in the bulge 301 g aligned with the web 42 a of the support member. Again the top and bottom spacer braces are mounted at floor and ceiling and the support member has its web 42 a with its sliding gaps 45 s inserted into the flanges 302 b & 301 b. The bottom end of the support member also has a slide gap 45 s, but is shown with a slide notch 126 s at the end and aligned so the slide notch 126 s is on the flange sides of the slide gap 45 s. After the web 42 a is inserted in the flanges 301 b at the slide gap 45 s of the L-shaped gap 45 e, then the lip 301 c is inserted into the slide gap 45 s and adjusted to fit into the two slide notches 126 s in both slide gaps 45 s and the support member is then slid horizontally so the web 42 a can fit into the bulge notches 126 bg. One end of the web 302 a is bent to form a hook finger 127 at one end of the reverse lip spacer brace 301. At the top of the support member additional vertically oriented web slot holes 36 ws are shown and are aligned with the slide gaps 45 s above. Should a support member need to be cut shorter, the web slot holes 36 ws would then be used as the slide gaps 45 s. The left key tab 36 k shows a notched-tab notch 126 ntn at side edge of the key hole 36 k A key tab 36 k is part of the web 42 a along with the shape of the hole 36, while the notched-tab 126 nt at the hole side edge 36 se is the key tab 36 k separated from the web 42 a. The key tab 36 k and the notched-tab 126 nt at the corner of the hole 36 are similar as the key tab 36 k is bent at a diagonal while the notched-tab 126 nt is bent horizontally. Also the key is smaller than the hole 36 and acts as a protrusion 36 p that support the lip 301 c with the lip notch 126 p.

FIG. 12 shows a wall section through a longitudinal U shaped spacer brace 302 where the web 302 a has the exterior side mounted against the ceiling with fasteners (not shown) and two flanges extending downward where the right flange 302 b shows a bulge notch 126 bg projecting from the exterior sides of the flanges 302 b. As further explained bugles 302 b with bulge notches 126 bg are required on both flanges 302 b for the U shaped spacer brace 302 to slide vertically in the slide gaps 45 s. The bulge 302 g have vertical oriented bulge notches 126 g located at the slide gaps 45 s so the sides of the vertically oriented bulge notches 126 bg engage both planes of the web 42 a of the support member. The bulges 302 g can be located on the interior or exterior side of the U shaped spacer brace 302. The bulge notches 126 bg are notched typically 16″ or 24″ on center and can have a flared edge to make it easier to insert into the slide gap 45 s which is also shown to have a flared edge at the end of the support member. When bending occurs from a ceiling or floor member above, the slide gaps 45 s located in the web 42 a of the support members, allows the U shaped spacer brace 302 to move vertically by allowing the support member to slide vertically inward within the slide gaps 45 s. On the left side the bulge 302 g is shown extending inward on the ventral side of the U shaped spacer brace 302. In this case the left bulge 302 g does not have a bulge notch 126 bg in the bulge 302 g, but a slide bulge notch 126 sg is shown on the interior side of the slid gap 45 s so the bulge 302 g can be inserted into the slide notch 126 s. By having the right slide gap 45 s have a bulge notch 126 bg and the left slide gap 45 s having a slide notch 126 s, the two different types of notches interlock the support member and the U shape spacer brace 302 together.

FIG. 13 shows a C shaped spacer brace 303 has the web 303 a with its exterior side mounted at the floor by fasteners (not shown). The flanges 303 b extend upward with the lips 303 c extending interior from the flanges 303 b. The flanges 303 b also have the bulge 303 g protruding on the external sides from the flanges 303 b and have a bulge notch 126 bg occurring typically 16″ or 24″ on center. The support member has the slide gap 45 s at the bottom of the web 42 a along with a slide notch 126 s for the lip 303 c to be inserted into. When the web 42 a is inserted into the slide gap 45 s the lip 303 c along with the flange 303 b will bend then the bulge notch 126 g will engage the side planes of the web 42 a at the slide gap 45 s until the lips 303 c are inserted into the slide notches 126 s in the web 42 a of the support member.

FIGS. 14 & 15 show two hole elevations and FIG. 16 shows an isometric view similar to the reverse lip spacer brace 301 shown in FIG. 25. An irregular shaped reverse lip spacer brace 301 in FIG. 16 shows the plane of the web 301 a resting on the hole bottom edge 36 be with the side planes 301 ba & 301 bb extending upward at angles sloping inward at an acute angle forming a bulge 301 g at their intersection. The bulge 301 g can be formed to have a bulge notch 126 g where the web 301 a and a portion of the flange 301 b have a combined notch referred to as a bulge notch 126 g or the bulge 301 g has no notch at all. The longitudinal edge of the flanges 301 b have lips 301 c that bend outward toward the hole side edge 36 se as shown in FIG. 14. The free edge of the lip 301 c abuts a hole protrusion 36 p as shown on the left hole side edge 36 se or indented shown as a lip hole notch 126 hp. The structural integrity of the hole 36 should be at the furthest indentation at the lip hole notch 126 hp. The left side of the hole side edge 36 se in FIG. 15 shows an inverted reverse lip spacer brace 301 as shown on the right hole side edge 36 se also described in FIG. 25. By having the left side inverted, the web 301 a has the longitudinal sides 302 ba & 302 bb extending downward with the flanges 320 ba & 302 bb conforming to the hole side edges 36 se with the bulge 301 g located at the corner of the flange 302 ba and the web 302 a with the bulge 302 g tucked under the hole protrusion 36 p. The left side shows a lip notch 126 p at the hole bottom edge 36 be at the end of the flange 302 bb. The right side shows the U shaped spacer brace 302 having the same web 302 a & flange 302 ba having the bulge 302 g, however the hole side edge 36 se has a hole notch 126 h shown as a bulge notch 126 bg where the bugle 302 g fits into the bugle notch 126 bg. On the other hand in FIG. 16 on the right side shows the flange 301 bb being extended and slightly bent forming a lip extension 301 ce with a lip notch 126 p. In the isometric view FIG. 16 shows an extended lip 301 ce that is also angled. The extended lip 301 ce has the lip notch 126 p extending inward from the free edge of the extended lip 301 ce. FIG. 16 could also be a U-shaped spacer brace 302 having flange notches 126 f extend into the hole protrusion 36 p or on the hole bottom edge 36 be, because the hole protrusion 36 p gives the U-shaped spacer brace 302 an entirely new invention as the hole protrusion 36 p keep the U-shaped spacer brace 302 from moving vertically within the hole 36

FIGS. 17-24 shows the cross section of various configurations of bulges that can be used to form the bulge notches 126 bg located in the bulges 302 g or slide notches 126 s located in slide gaps 45 s or holes notches 126 h located in the holes of the support members. Only one flange is shown in the enlargements, however typically the bulges 302 g are located on both flanges of the spacer brace. The bulges 302 g can be located anywhere along the plane of the flanges and are located in a slide gap 45 s of a web 42 a of a support member. A U shaped spacer brace 302 is used where the bulge 302 g extends wider than the slide gap 45 s so a bulge notch 126 bg can be formed on the exterior side of the bulge notch 126 bg so both sides of the bulge slide notch 126 sg engage both sides of the slide gap 45 s. The bulges 302 g can be located on either side of the slide gap 45 s. FIG. 17 shows a pointed shape bulge 126 g having a vertex where the two planes intersect with a bulge slide notch 126 sg located where the web 42 a of the slide gap 45 s intersect the bulge slide notch 126 sg and in FIG. 18 the pointed shaped bulge 126 g does not have a bulge slide notch 126 sg, but instead has a slide notch 126 s so the bulge 302 g can fit into and will be lodge into the slide notch 126 s and will not move vertically within the slide notch 126 s. FIGS. 19 & 20 are similar however the bulge 302 g is like a half-circle shaped bulge and in FIG. 19 the bulge 302 g has a bulge notch 126 bg and in FIG. 15 the bulge 302 g is continuous and the slide gap 45 s has a slide notch 126 s to fit into. FIGS. 21 & 22 are similar to FIG. 19 that is the bulge 302 g is a combination of two bulges 302 g where one-half of the bulge 302 g extends over the internal side of the slide gap 45 s and the other half of the bulge 302 g extends over the exterior side and both halves have the bulge notch 126 bg that extends over the side plane of the slide gaps 45 s. FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 21 having two half bulges 302 g each extending over the exterior and interior sides of the slide gap 45 s, however both bulges 302 g extend into the slide notches 126 s of the slide gap 45 s. FIG. 23 is similar to FIGS. 21 & 22 as the bulge 302 g consist of two half bulges where one half bulge has bulge notch 126 bg and the other half bulge has a slide notch 126 s. FIG. 24 has the slide gap 45 s is horizontal rather than vertical and the half bulges are the same as in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 386 shows the hole 36 with many different hole notches 126 h and various configurations so the edges of a horizontal spacing-bracing channel can intersected any of the hole edges to secure the horizontal spacing-bracing member from moving vertically or horizontally within the hole 36 opening. The hole bottom edge 36 be shows a notched-tab 126 nt extending upward into the hole 36 from the web 42 a of the support member. The outside plane of the web 302 a of the reverse lip spacer brace 302 has a notched-tab indentation 126 nti corresponding to a shadow profile of the notched-tab 126 nt at the hole bottom edge 36 be so the two metal crossing members interlock together. The size of the hole 36 in support members have standard hole dimensions, because the structural strength of the support member is based on a specific size of a hole. The hole variations are based on reducing the interior hole dimensions by adding protrusions, not by removing portions of the web 42 a to form the hole 36 configurations. In other FIG's the reverse lip spacer brace 301 is shown in reverse with the lips 301 c adjacent to the hole bottom edge 36 be. When this occurs the web 301 a is installed below the hole protrusions 36 p located at the hole side edges 36 se securing the reverse lip spacer brace 301 within the hole 36 vertically and the lip notches 301 c extending around the hole side edges 36 se or hole bottom edge 36 be secure the reverse lip spacer brace 301 from horizontal movement. The installation of the reverse lip spacer brace 301 under the hole protrusions 36 p and along with the lip 301 c or the lip notches 126 p requires the bracing channel to be rotated between the hole edges allowing the reverse lip spacer brace to obtain better angled leverage for easier installation as well as give flexibility to the metal properties of the reverse lip spacer brace 301. The same configurations of the various notches and horizontal spacing-bracing members can be applied to other connection criteria used to hole the two crossing framing members together. So by making the hole smaller by adding hole protrusions 36 p, the hole is now smaller, but large enough to install hole notches 36 n in the hole protrusions 36 p without have to retest the structural capacity of the support member. Some hole protrusions 36 p use one side of the hole protrusion 36 p as a hole notch 126 h and the existing hole side edge 36 se as another surface to form a hole notch 126 h.

FIG. 26 shows a perspective view of the exterior side of the support member shown as a C channel 42 with a large shaped hole 36 and a key hole 36 k below with key hole tabs 36 kt on both sides of the key 36 k. A U shaped spacer brace 302 with the exterior side of the web 302 a facing upward and the extension 302 e extending through the key hole 36 k with the extension 302 e and the flanges 302 b abut the interior side on the web 42 a. The extension 302 e has receiver notches 126 r on both side edges for the key tabs 36 kt to fit into. The first leg 129 a of the hook receiver 129 and the extension 302 e abuts the interior side of the web 42 a and the first leg 129 a is bent inward downward against the exterior side plane of the web 42 a. The second leg 129 b extends away from the web 42 a and is then bent vertically leaving a gap 45 between the first leg 129 a and the third leg 129 c. The second leg 129 b has receiver notches 126 r on both side edges. The key hole tabs 36 kt form a triangular shape because the key tabs 36 k are bent at an angle shown as a dashed line at the corner edges of the hole 36 and the edge of the key tabs 36 kt where the extension 302 e intersects the key tabs 36 kt. At the hole top edge 36 te two tongue tabs 128 tt are shown extending downward from the hook tongue 128 with the right tongue tab 128 tt bent.

FIG. 27 shows a metal framing members connected at the top end and bottom end with two different configured spacing-bracing members. The bottom end shows a ledge 79 protruding from the interior side of the web 42 a and where the ledge 79 engages a punch out 326. The punch out 326 with a wrap-around tab 326 tw that has a pivot end 326 pe and a vented end 326 ve with the wrap-around tab 326 tw wraps around the ledge 79 plus flanges 302 b of the U shaped spacer brace 302 having a flange notch 126 fg this is L-shaped and where the ledge 79 is also inserted into the L portion of the flange notch 126 fg. The top end of the metal framing member has another U shaped spacer brace 302 having a web 302 a with extending flanges 302 b and where the flanges 302 b show a bulge 302 bg being intersection a bulge notch 126 bg. The bulge 302 bg is removed in the flange 302 b so the flange 42 b of the metal framing member can engage into the bulge notch 126 bg with the side edges of the bulge 302 bg engages the lip 42 c and web 42 a. In addition the hook tongue 128 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 is slightly different at the tongue 128 t could be located at the longitudinal end of the U shaped spacer brace 302 as shown in the previous FIG's however a ledge 79 is protruding outward where two ledges at protruding outwardly (the ledge 79 could also be referred to as a punch out having two tabs) with the ledges 79 extending into a receiver slot hole 129 sh. The other receiving slot hole 129 sh shows a ledge 79 extending above the plane of the web 302 a that is shown in U.S. Ser. No. 16/195,847.

Various shapes of horizontal spacing-bracing members are shown throughout the application having different means to connecting a spacing-bracing member or several spacing-bracing members together to adjacent metal support members as well as various means to close the hole in the support member to create a fire stop between the spacing-bracing chambers and the support members

The present invention of the unique spacer braces are so versatile that the spacer brace allows for a much easier and quicker installation of metal framing walls, installing horizontal and diagonal lateral bracing or installing hold-down spacer bracing at floors, installing horizontal and diagonal braces between support members either between holes or at the flanges.

It is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or structures shown and describing in the specification and drawings, since obvious modifications and equivalents will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The flexibility of the described invention is very versatile and can be used in many different types of building applications. 

1. A structural framing system, comprising: a first longitudinal spacing-bracing member comprising a web lying in a plane, said web having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, a first longitudinal wall connected to said first side of said web and a second longitudinal wall connected to said second side of said web; said web, said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall forming a channel, said first longitudinal wall and said longitudinal wall each having a bulge extending inward toward said web and each said bulge having bulge notches having a first continuous cut into said bulge with said continuous cut starting at the inward curve ending at said opposing end of said bulge and separated by a second continuous cut with said first continuous cut and said second continuous cut form a first bulge side edge and a second bulge side edge with said bulge notch having a top bulge side edge and a bottom bulge side edge with a third cut connecting the start of said first continuous cut edge and said first start of said second continuous cut with a forth continuous cut being said bottom edged of said bulge notch with said bulge notches aligned to said bulge notches at said second longitudinal wall, said first bulge notch and said second bulge notch each comprising a plurality of bulge notches extending toward a longitudinal axis of said web; a structural member having a first end and a second end with said first end and said second end being said first end attached to said first spacing-bracing member with said second end attached to a substantially identical to said first spacing-bracing member, each said structural member having a web and flanges with lips extending from said flanges, are configured to engage said spacing-bracing member with said web against said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall with said web and said lips against said first bulge side edges and said second bulge side edges, respective said bulge notches forming a connection to said first longitudinal spacing-bracing member and a second longitudinal spacing-bracing member.
 2. A structural framing system, comprising: a first longitudinal spacing-bracing member comprising a web lying in a plane, said web having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, a first longitudinal wall connected to said first side of said web and a second longitudinal wall connected to said second side of said web; said web, said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall forming a channel, said first longitudinal wall and said longitudinal wall each having a bulge extending inward toward said web and each said bulge having bulge notches having a first continuous cut into said bulge with said continuous cut starting at the inward curve ending at said opposing end of said bulge and separated by a second continuous cut with said first continuous cut and said second continuous cut form a first bulge side edge and a second bulge side edge with said bulge notch having a top bulge side edge and a bottom bulge side edge with a third cut connecting the start of said first continuous cut edge and said first start of said second continuous cut with a forth continuous cut being said bottom edged of said bulge notch with said bulge notches aligned to said bulge notches at said second longitudinal wall, said first bulge notch and said second bulge notch each comprising a plurality of bulge notches extending toward a longitudinal axis of said web; said web having a first end and a second end with said first end having an extension with said extension having a tongue end having a tapered end with a notch between said tapered end and said extension with a second end having a receiver hole to accept said tapered end with said notch; a first structural member and a second structural member substantially identical to said first structural member, each said structural member having a web and flanges with lips extending from said flanges, are configured to engage said spacing-bracing member with said web against said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall with said web and said lips against said first bulge side edges and said second bulge side edges, respective said bulge notches forming a connection to said longitudinal spacing-bracing member; whereby said first longitudinal spacing-bracing member is configured to be connected to a second substantially identical longitudinal spacing-bracing member by a U-shaped connector to nest within said first longitudinal spacing-bracing member and said second longitudinal spacing-bracing member, said U-shaped connectors having opposing said hook tongue and said receiver to receive a respective one of said perimeters of said respective spacing-bracing members.
 3. A structural framing system, comprising: a first longitudinal spacing-bracing member comprising a web lying in a plane, said web having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, a first longitudinal wall connected to said first side of said web and a second longitudinal wall connected to said second side of said web; said web, said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall forming a channel, a first lip connected to an edge of said first longitudinal wall distal with respect to said web, a second lip connected to an edge of said second longitudinal wall distal with respect to said web, said first lip and said second lip extending toward each other, said first lip and said second lip each comprising a plurality of notches spaced along a longitudinal length of said spacing-bracing member, said notches extending toward toward said opposing lip; a structural member having a first end and a second end with said first end and said second end being said first end attached to said first spacing-bracing member with said second end attached to a substantially identical to said first spacing-bracing member, each said structural member having a web and flanges with lips extending from said flanges, are configured to engage said spacing-bracing member with said flanges against the back edge of said lip notch with said web and said lips of said structural member engage said side edges of said lips forming a connection to said first longitudinal spacing-bracing member and a second longitudinal spacing-bracing member.
 4. The structural framing members according to claim 3 wherein said first longitudinal wall and said second longitudinal wall have bulges or lips that extend from said flanges inward toward said opposing said flange.
 5. The structural framing members according to claim 4 wherein the bulges having angled flanges to form the bulges with said angled flanges being the side edges support for said structural member.
 6. The structural framing members according to claim 5 wherein the angled flanges have bulge notches with the web and lips of said structural member.
 7. The structural framing members according to claim 3 wherein said web in said structural member have said top end and said bottom end having a pair of gaps extending inward from said top end and said bottom end for said longitudinal spacing-bracing member to have said flanges and said lips to fit into. FIG.


8. The structural framing members according to claim 7 wherein said gaps have gap notches for said lips to fit into or said bulges to fit into said gaps. FIG.


9. The structural framing members according to claim 8 wherein said gaps have gap notches for said bulges or said lips for said notches or said lips extend the said notches or said lips into said gap notches at either side edges defining said gaps.
 10. The structural framing members according to claim 9 wherein the said gaps have no notches in said gaps have bulge notches in said gap side edges slide vertically in the bulges or said lip notches.
 11. The structural framing members according to claim 3 wherein said aperture in said structural members has said spacing-bracing member extends through said apertures with said apertures have hole notches for said bulges or said lips to fit into.
 12. The structural framing members according to claim 11 wherein said side edges of said aperture conform to the configuration of said bulges in said spacing-bracing member.
 13. The structural framing members according to claim 11 wherein said spacing-bracing member has said web abutting said bottom edge of said hole or said spacing-bracing member is inverted with said lips engaging the side edges of said aperture. 